The Settlement of International Cultural Heritage Disputes

The international practice of the past forty years shows the proliferation of a great variety of disputes concerning tangible cultural heritage. These mostly consist of inter-State and private claims about artworks stolen or illegally exported, and controversies regarding the protection of monuments and cultural spaces, not only from war-like situations, but also from non-violent processes, such as the realisation of investment projects. This book discusses whether an improvement in the manner in which these disputes are dealt with may enhance the international protection of cultural heritage.